Goal-Line Tech Stars in World Cup

Hawkeye GLT
The underlying technology and mode of operation behind Hawkeye GLT is remarkably similar to that of GoalControl-4D. One of the reasons eyebrows were raised when the German company was chosen for the World Cup in Brazil is because the British group already has a great track record and has become a familiar visual aid to umpires and fans in tennis and cricket for many years. Hawk-Eye's first GLT system was already tested by the English Premier League in a match in 2007 and was used for the first time the season just ended by the PL.

Its use has only increased the chatter amongst fans and has hardly impacted the speed and continuity of the game, as many had feared it would.

The officials' watch used with the Hawk-Eye system was developed in an exclusive deal with French company Adeunis RF, but neither company is commenting on the frequencies deployed for sending the encrypted data to the match officials.

Technology worked fine...people didn't know how to interpret the technology, they will adjust quickly...now we have to invent something to prevent players of faking fouls like German player today crying after being being virtually hit by a Portuguese player (it didn't end well for Portuguese player who butt headed the German and got ejected as a result)

So we have had the first bit of controversy over goal-line technology. In the France-Honduras match last night, France forward Karim Benzema's shot hit the bar and GLT (correctly) ruled it did not cross line, and we got a 'No Goal' flashed up on the screen. But the ball then hit the Honduras golakeeper as he tries to push it away and bounced back in, so a second later, we got a 'Goal'. Pandemonim breaks out, the goal (corrrectly) stands and , in the very best FIFA tradition, the oprganisers and broadcasters will now review how decisions are aired,"in order to ensure maximum clarity in the future." Early score: GLT 1: 0. John Walko.

Real time objective information will improve the quality of scoring. There is no excuse for TV replays or fam photographs to demontaret that a referee call is wrong and still have the rulings stand. That said, the 45 degree angle demonstration photographs in the article are a poor example. The viewing perspective does not prove that the ball is inside; that requires a side view or some realtime rangefinding equipment and trigonometry which is an unnecessarily complex way to solve the problem.

So we need to do an article on cricket tech or pull the article from EE Times Europe. (Maybe the Virginia Tech Cricket Club could write it for us.) Other sports tech to watch? I was wondering about Sumo wrestling tech.

There are Wolrd cup apps available for peopleto downlload on their smartphones. There is one from FiFa directly and a few others from ESPN and some other companies.

I cant wait to see this in action. There is so much to look forward to with technology in the World Cup. In addtion to the goal-line technology, a few of the stadiums in Brazil where matches will be hosted have been upgraded. I even read that a mind-controlled robot will appear at kick-off to allow a paralyzed teenager to kick the ball to "open the gates" so to speak.

I agree. I want to watch how this technology performs during the event. I'm not a big sports fan (i like some sports) but lately the broadcast technology has made more sport genres more accessible and interesting to the casual viewer. For instance, I don't know much about sailing but the tech used in the America's Cup Race made the race watchable on TV. The tech may bring more of the lazy fans out (like me) because it tells more of an interesting story. Obviously, when tech is first adopted, it is the story. After this year, the tech may be just ho-hum.